Pay or play tournament format

ABSTRACT

A multi-entry tournament is provided. The tournament format allows participants to enter as many times as they choose until the specified sized bracket is full. The tournament format also allows participants to enter in a round further into the tournament bracket. Thus, participants are able to more quickly advance through the tournament without having to play the standard number of matches.

PARENT CASE TEXT Priority Claim

This application is a non-provisional application of, claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/668,403 filed on Jul. 5, 2012, the entire contents of this application are incorporated herein by reference.

DESCRIPTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for conducting a competition. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for conducting a tournament.

2. Background of the Invention

In many instances, it is desirable to determine the best player or team at a given event. Often, however, numerous players or teams are involved, such that a single game can not be played to determine the winner.

A variety of tournament or playoff formats have been developed to determine the winner of a multi-participant event. Normally, these tournaments involve players or teams playing one another in pairs, with the winners and/or losers playing one another in a given sequence in order to determine the single winner of the event.

For example, a baseball, basketball or football tournament involving teams, or a bowling, golf or tennis tournament involving individuals, or a online game tournament played by individuals, usually comprises of some even number of slots in brackets, such as 128, 64, 32, 16, 8 or 4, where the teams or players are paired randomly and play one another in a first round. If the number of participants does not fill all of the spots in the initial bracket, some entrants will have “byes” and will automatically advance to the next round. The winners of the first round games or matches advance to play each other in a second round within a “winners” bracket, and so on until only one unbeaten team or player remains. This team or player is the winner of the event. In this type of tournament, a single loss by a team or player eliminates them from the event. This type of tournament is commonly called a “single-elimination” tournament.

In the single-elimination format, players or teams are only allowed to enter the tournament once. Most participants will start the tournament in the first round matches with a possibility that some participants get a bye into the second round.

One variation of the single-elimination tournament format is the double-elimination tournament format. This format uses the single-elimination bracket as its basis, but then allows the participants that lose their match in the single-elimination bracket an opportunity to continue play in the one loss side of the tournament bracket. Participants continue play until they lose a second match, in which then they are eliminated from the double-elimination tournament.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description provided below.

The PAY OR PLAY TOURNAMENT FORMAT takes a standard tournament using a single-elimination bracket and makes significant changes to the method of the typical administration of such an event, thus making it a truly unique and distinguishable format.

The main feature of the PAY OR PLAY TOURNAMENT FORMAT is that it allows a participant to enter the competition multiple times instead of the customary single entry. Participants can occupy multiple spots in the first round of a single-elimination bracket where before, using the typical method of running a tournament using a single-elimination bracket, the participant could only occupy one spot in the first round.

Because of this main feature, a method is provided so that a participant is not required to start the competition in the first round of the bracket, but can buy a position in the later rounds provided that there is still a position available. The participant can buy as many of these advanced entries as long as there are positions available.

Because of the method of allowing players to buy an entry that places them further in the bracket, there is a possibility that the number of matches required to complete the tournament is reduced compared to the typical method of conducting a tournament.

Another feature that is unique to this tournament format is that players can choose who they play in their first match of an entry. There are no other formats that let you choose who you play.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a typical 16 player single-elimination bracket

FIG. 2 shows examples of how players can advance in the bracket by buying a higher level entry. Player A is shown to have bought a Level 4 entry and advances to the final match. Player B is shown to have bought a Level 3 entry and is waiting for an opponent in one of the semi-final matches. Player B is shown to also have bought a Level 1 entry and will play Player D, who also bought a Level 1 entry. That match is in the Round of 16. Player C is shown to have bought a Level 2 entry, and is waiting to play a quarter-final match against the winner of the match between Player B and Player D.

FIG. 3 is a simulated completed tournament bracket using the entrants from FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates how the entry fee for each Level doubles the preceding Level's entry fee.

FIG. 5 is a typical four player double-elimination bracket.

FIG. 6 illustrates how the PAY OR PLAY TOURNAMENT FORMAT applies to the double-elimination tournament bracket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Although the following text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the legal scope of the invention is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment of the invention since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims defining the invention.

FIG. 1 is a 16 player single-elimination bracket illustrating tournament play in accordance with the typical administration of such a tournament. Each player is only allowed to buy a single entry into the tournament. Players play their matches with the winner advancing to the next round. They do this until there is only one winner left which is then declared the winner of the tournament.

The main feature and most important element of the PAY OR PLAY TOURNAMENT FORMAT is the allowance of multiple entries by a single team or player. Multiple entries can be bought at any time until the specified size of bracket being used is completely full. This feature is not currently offered in tournaments using a single-elimination bracket. It is because of this specific feature that makes this invention unique.

Because of the main feature of the format, the way the tournament is conducted becomes very complicated. Certain procedures must be in place for the tournament to run correctly and smoothly.

One of these procedures is to determine how big of a bracket to use for a particular tournament. There is no limit to how big a single-elimination tournament bracket can be. Using the typical method of conducting a tournament, the size of the bracket is determined by how many players enter a particular tournament before the registration deadline. Once the total number of players entered in the tournament is determined, a single-elimination bracket sized big enough to accommodate all the entered players is used. Without declaring the size of the bracket, players will continue to buy entries until they are not able to, using the method of the present invention. That's why there needs to be a limit on when a player can enter. This can be done in one of two ways. The first is to set a specific deadline for entry. The second is to declare how big the bracket is and let players buy entries until the bracket is full. Declaring the size of the single-elimination bracket is an absolute method to limit the number of entries, while setting a deadline for entry is not as absolute as declaring the size of the bracket. Actually, both methods can be combined when conducting a tournament using the PAY OR PLAY TOURNAMENT FORMAT.

The main feature of multiple entries also allows for a specific procedure that allows players to start the tournament in a later round rather than having to start in the first round. Because of this, players are able to buy an entry all the way up to the final round. This is illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

Player A is shown to have bought a spot in the final match, or a Level 4 entry, of the 16 player bracket shown in FIG. 2. This is by allowing a player to buy the preceding cumulative spots that correspond to the entry. Player A was allowed to buy the 8 first round spots in the top half of the bracket. In effect, Player A plays Player A and Player A advances in each match. Because they play themselves, they advance until there is only one entry remaining, which in this case is in the final match, or a Level 4 entry in a 16 player single-elimination bracket.

Player B is shown to have bought a spot in the semi-final match, or a Level 3 entry, of the 16 player bracket shown in FIG. 2. Again, this is done by allowing a player to buy the preceding cumulative spots that correspond to that entry. In this case, Player B was allowed to buy the 4 first round spots that correspond to the Level 3 entry.

Player C is shown to have bought a spot in a quarter-final match, or a Level 2 entry, of the 16 player bracket shown in FIG. 2. Again, this is done by allowing a player to buy the preceding cumulative spots that correspond to that entry. In this case, Player C was allowed to buy the 2 first round spots that correspond to the Level 2 entry.

Player D is shown to have bought a single entry in the first round of the 16 player bracket shown in FIG. 2. Along with this, Player B is shown to also have bought a single entry in the first round of the 16 player bracket shown in FIG. 2. This illustrates the main feature of the tournament format showing that Player B has bought multiple entries into this tournament.

Since all the first round, or Level 1, spots are occupied, the tournament in FIG. 2 is considered full. There are no other entries available in this particular 16 player bracket. This illustrates the importance of declaring the size of the bracket being used in any given tournament using the PAY OR PLAY TOURNAMENT FORMAT.

Another procedure that needs to take place, when conducting a tournament using the PAY OR PLAY TOURNAMENT FORMAT, is to constantly determine how many entries are still available at each Level. The easiest way to do this is to determine how many entries are available for each Level at the beginning of the tournament. When an entry is bought into the tournament, the number of entries available at each Level should be adjusted accordingly. By constantly keeping track of how many entries are available at each Level after each entry into the tournament, the players will always know if there is an available entry at a specific entry Level.

Another feature of the PAY OR PLAY TOURNAMENT FORMAT is that when a player buys multiple entries, it is possible to meet themselves further in the bracket. This is illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows a completed tournament using the entrants from FIG. 2. The drawing shows that PLAYER B meets themselves in the semi-final, or Level 3, match of the 16 player bracket. When this is the case that particular match does not have to be played, therefore saving time and allowing the tournament to run quicker than usual. This shows how this format can save time compared to how a typical tournament using a 16 player single-elimination bracket is conducted.

Another procedure that needs to take place with this format is to determine how far to allow a player to buy into the bracket. It is up to the tournament promoter to decide how far into the bracket a person is able to buy up to. This procedure is integral in determining how many places to award in the prize fund.

Another procedure that needs to take place when using the PAY OR PLAY TOURNAMENT FORMAT is to determine whether or not people with multiple entries are allowed to claim more than one place of the prize fund. It needs to be declared in the rules for the specific tournament using the PAY OR PLAY TOURNAMENT FORMAT whether or not a player is allowed to win more than one place in the prize fund. If the tournament promoter decides that a player can only win one place, they claim the highest place of finish for the prize fund. Also additional procedures need to take place to determine how the rest of the prize fund is paid out.

FIG. 3 shows a completed tournament from the entries of FIG. 2. It shows that Player B is the winner of the tournament and that Player A is the second place finisher. It also shows that Player A and Player B also placed in the 3^(rd)/4^(th) place spots. This is the reason that the recently described procedure needs to take place. If the tournament promoter decided that the players can claim more than one place in the prize fund, then Player A and Player B also receives the prize for 3^(rd)/4^(th) place. If the tournament promoter decided that the players can claim only one prize, then the two players don't receive the prize for 3^(rd)/4^(th) place. Player C would receive 3^(rd) place and Player D would receive 4^(th) place based on the results of earlier matches where Player C advanced further in the bracket than Player D.

Another procedure that needs to take place with this format is to randomly draw players into the bracket. This format does not allow for so called “seeding” into the bracket. There is no way to determine where seeds should be placed in the bracket because that practice is used for a tournament using a single-elimination bracket and can not be used in a multi-entry format.

Another feature that is unique to the PAY OR PLAY TOURNAMENT FORMAT is that players can choose who they play in their first match of an entry. Let's look at FIG. 2 again to illustrate this. Let's assume that Player D and Player B know each other and wish to play each other in the first round of the tournament. Each player pays their Level 1 entry fee and they are allowed to proceed with their match. Player B wins that match according to FIG. 3. Player B then randomly draws into the bracket. Because all the other spots in the bracket are taken when Player B is supposed to randomly draw into the bracket due to the other earlier entries of Players A, B, and C, they are placed in the last match of Level 1 at the bottom of the bracket. The bracket is then considered full and no other entries are allowed. Again, this illustrates the uniqueness of being able to choose your opponent of the first match of an entry, which is not allowed in the typical administration of a tournament.

FIG. 4 shows the typical entry fee structure for the PAY OR PLAY TOURNAMENT FORMAT. The tournament promoter makes the decision of how much the fee is for a Level 1 entry. The next available Level for entry will always be twice the entry fee of the preceding Level's entry. If the Level 1 entry for a specific tournament is $2, the Level 2 entry would be $4, the Level 3 entry would be $8, and so on and so forth.

The PAY OR PLAY TOURNAMENT FORMAT applies to tournaments that also use the double-elimination bracket format. The reason for this is that the double-elimination tournament bracket embodies a single-elimination tournament bracket. FIG. 5 shows a typical four participant double-elimination bracket. The top portion, or the winner's side, is the standard single-elimination bracket. The double-elimination tournament format allows participants that lose their match in the single-elimination portion of the bracket to continue play in the loser's bracket. Participants then continue play until they lose a second match, in which then they are eliminated from the tournament.

FIG. 6 shows how the PAY OR PLAY TOURNAMENT FORMAT applies to the double-elimination bracket. Player A purchased a Level 2 entry using the PAY OR PLAY TOURNAMENT FORMAT method while Player's B and C purchased a Level 1 entry. It shows Player A also have a spot in match #4 as the loser of match #1.

The present format and method can be used for either real or virtual competition. It is useful for actual sports tournaments. It is also usable for virtual competition on a computerized system with multiple play stations, either at the same location or networked over multiple remote locations.

Although the present invention has been described herein with respect to preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the foregoing description is intended to be illustrative, not restrictive. Modifications of the present invention will occur to those skilled in the art. All such modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the present invention. 

1. A method for conducting multiple participants to play a tournament of a competition or game comprising: A single-elimination tournament bracket; Allowing a single participant to enter multiple times.
 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein players are allowed to choose their very first opponent per each entry.
 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the tournament director determines the size of the single-elimination bracket, thus determining how many rounds are to be played based on the size of the single-elimination bracket.
 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the tournament director allows participants to advance in the single-elimination bracket by purchasing an entry with a higher entry fee.
 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the tournament director determines the cutoff round in which a participant can buy an entry.
 6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the tournament director determines whether a participant can claim more than one prize in the prize fund.
 7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the tournament director determines if there is an available entry at all the levels that a participant are allowed to buy an entry.
 8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the tournament director determines where to place the participant in the bracket.
 9. A method for conducting multiple participants to play a tournament of a competition or game comprising: A double-elimination tournament bracket; Allowing a single participant to enter multiple times.
 10. A method according to claim 9, wherein players are allowed to choose their very first opponent per each entry.
 11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the tournament director determines the size of the double-elimination bracket, thus determining how many rounds are to be played based on the size of the double-elimination bracket.
 12. A method according to claim 9, wherein the tournament director allows participants to advance in the double-elimination bracket by purchasing an entry with a higher entry fee.
 13. A method according to claim 9, wherein the tournament director determines the cutoff round in which a participant can buy an entry.
 14. A method according to claim 9, wherein the tournament director determines whether a participant can claim more than one prize in the prize fund.
 15. A method according to claim 9, wherein the tournament director determines if there is an available entry at all the levels that a participant are allowed to buy an entry.
 16. A method according to claim 9, wherein the tournament director determines where to place the participant in the bracket.
 17. A method for conducting multiple participants to play a tournament of a competition or a game comprising; A single-elimination tournament bracket; Allowing a single participant to enter multiple times; A method allowing participants to advance in the single-elimination bracket by purchasing an entry with a higher entry fee. 